Ivanov

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904)

A Russian doctor, short-story writer, and playwright, Anton Chekhov was born in the port city of Taganrog. He was the third child of Pavel, a grocer and devout Christian, and Yevgeniya, a natural storyteller. His father’s violent and arrogant nature, which included abuse of his wife and children, served as inspiration for many of Chekhov’s most tyrannical and hypocritical characters.

Chekhov studied at the Greek School in Taganrog, where he learned Ancient Greek. In 1876, his father’s debts forced the family to relocate to Moscow. While they lived in poverty, Anton remained in Taganrog to settle their finances and finish his studies. During this period, he worked odd jobs, read extensively, and composed his first written works.

He joined his family in Moscow in 1879, pursuing a medical degree while writing short stories for entertainment and to support his parents and siblings. After finishing his degree and contracting tuberculosis, he began writing for Novoye Vremya, a popular paper that helped launch his literary career and provide financial independence.

A friend and colleague of Leo Tolstoy, Maxim Gorky, and Ivan Bunin, Chekhov is remembered for his skillful observations of everyday Russian life, his deeply psychological character studies, and his mastery of language and the rhythms of conversation.